Pakistan’s strategic Gwadar Port was attacked on March 20 after several armed assailants gained entry into the complex. A heavy gun battle erupted between the assailants and security personnel at the Gwadar Port Authority Colony, resulting in the killing of two soldiers and the elimination of eight terrorists. The United Nations Department for Safety and Security also acknowledged several explosions and continuous firing during the assault on the complex, which houses various government and paramilitary offices. The Gwadar port is a key part of the ambitious China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) plan operated by China.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Baluchistan Liberation Army’s (BLA) Majeed Brigade was behind the attack as it has also claimed responsibility for the attack in the restive Balochistan region. During the incident, a substantial cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives was recovered. This attack comes amidst an escalation in terror activities in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan, following the termination of the ceasefire between the militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the government.
The TTP, which has ideological links with the Afghan Taliban and is also known as the Pakistan Taliban, was set up as an umbrella group of several militant outfits in 2007. The TTP’s main aim is to impose its strict brand of Islam across Pakistan. The Pakistan Taliban established its presence in the Paktika province, which is located near Pakistan’s South Waziristan District, while Khost is situated near North Waziristan. Pakistan had hoped that the Afghan Taliban, after coming to power in Kabul in 2022, would stop the use of their soil against Pakistan by expelling the TTP operatives. However, Islamabad says Kabul has refused to rein in the TTP.
Pakistan Attacking Afghanistan
Pakistan recently conducted “intelligence-based anti-terror operations” within Afghanistan, triggering heightened tensions between the neighbouring nations. The escalation ensued following Afghanistan’s allegations of Pakistan being responsible for the deaths of eight of its citizens in airstrikes. In retaliation, the Taliban government targeted Pakistani troops along the border, exacerbating the situation. Pakistan has levelled accusations against Afghanistan for harbouring terrorists, a claim that the Taliban vehemently refutes.
The recent airstrikes come in the wake of a security post-attack in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, which resulted in the deaths of seven Pakistani soldiers. Following the attack, Pakistan’s President, Asif Ali Zardari, vowed retaliation. The strikes targeted terrorists from the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, which, along with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officials.
The strained relationship between Pakistan and the Taliban can be attributed to the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan. Pakistan, initially optimistic about having a friendly neighbour, now recognises that the Taliban’s return to power has bolstered the TTP and offered it a sanctuary. Ironically, Pakistan’s historical policies endorsing hardline Sunni Islam in the northern and western regions of Pakistan, as well as in Afghanistan, played a role in the formation of the Taliban during the 1980s.
Although Pakistan’s security forces have achieved some victories against the TTP, the Taliban administration in Afghanistan appears to have bolstered the TTP, demonstrating greater allegiance to the militant faction than to the Pakistani state. Additionally, Islamabad’s choice to repatriate thousands of Afghan immigrants, attributing their participation in street crimes and militant assaults, has been another source of conflict.
Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have been the primary centres of violence, accounting for over 90% of all fatalities and 84% of attacks in Pakistan. These areas have experienced a rise in terrorism-linked incidents, such as assaults on security forces and civilian sites. The recent airstrikes conducted within Afghanistan indicate a concerning escalation in tensions between Pakistan and its neighbouring nation. The scenario remains dynamic, with both countries exchanging strong language and allegations. The global community closely watching the situation, which is fast worsening.
Punit Gore
